Thailand Floods: In Praise Of The Thais

A British Weather Gripe

The week before last I was getting highly annoyed with the great British weather and that is certainly not a first. I was trying to finish off some outside painting and decorating work, but it seemed everyday I got going it started to rain. As each passing day came and went with rain lashing against my just finished brand new paint work (which was now ruined once again), all I could do was hope for drier weather the next day.

My complaints about the weather (apparently a great British trait) were now at crescendo level and anyone within earshot of me would certainly hear about it, whether they wanted to or not. Before moving on to drier work I decided to have a cup of coffee and catch (for what it was worth) a weather report for the next day.

On turning on the television I could hear Thai language coming out of the box long before a picture arrived and realised the Thai satellite channel was still on. Scrambling around looking for the remote control ( I mean why is there now 5 different remote controls for one television), that turns the Thai channel off ,so that I can get the latest weather updates is a work of art. The delay in completing this task had me looking on with horror as I observed the total chaos and devastation from the Bangkok floods that the Thais were suffering from. I left the Thai channel on and felt guilty about my wet weather complaining here in the UK. The longer I watched the greater perspective it gave my gripes.

Starting Out Again With Nothing

However I am not here to bring the news or updates of this massive problem , they’re are a number of fine outlets for you to receive that from and I simply could not compete, but already approximately some 562 people have died in the flooding since July 2011. It is the worst flooding in Thailand in more than a half a century. It is believed that now more than 2 million Thais are homeless and there are countless sad tales of new business ventures put together from people’s hard-earned life savings, yes, the realisation of dreams completely ruined. These people must now start again from scratch with nothing.

It is believed that in places the floods are starting to recede, but goodness knows how long it will be before people’s lives can take on some sort of normality and I am sure the after effects from all this will continue for some time to come.

My objective however is as I say not in bringing the news, but in pointing out the sheer heroic efforts and determination of the Thai people to handle the scale of this massive problem with dignity and with a positive force for the future recovery.

I caught up with a few friends to see how they were and how the worst floods in over half a century had affected them.

From The Nonthaburi Area Of Bangkok

Speaking to Khun Nuttaya who lives in the Nonthaburi area I asked her how the floods had affected her Nuttaya told me that her house was completely flooded, that she was unable to enter and she had taken photos of the hopeless situation. She also said that for this reason she was now staying in Chonburi about an hours drive outside of Bangkok, where there was no flooding. The photos on this post are those of Khun Nuttaya and shown with her kind permission.

From The Ladphrao Area Of Bangkok

Speaking with Khun Kasinee who lives in the Ladphrao area of Bangkok the story was the same. Kasinee had been totally submerged in flood water for two weeks, but also alluded to the community spirit and acts of human kindness.

Kasinee said that she had observed the good side of Thai people as they had given each other strength and helped each other in the face of such adversity, they were all as one and were learning to live with it. Kasinee also said that she had learned how to eat just one meal per day to save the food as she was stuck in her apartment and she told me that they were all experiencing the same thing and shared the difficulties together. Further to our conversation she said that things were beginning to dry up now and that they had all survived by helping each other.

Hua Hin A Popular Escape From The Flooding

I spoke with British expat and freelance writer Mark Stephens and if you are thinking the name is familiar he is our Hua Hin correspondent who has supplied so much brilliant information on lifestyle and living in Hua Hin on this blog. I asked Mark to provide me with a flood update in Hua Hin, but he informed me that it was as dry as a bone there and had been all the time. However Mark did say that on his recent trips to the capital he had noticed how the whole thing had brought everyone together.

Mark also said that lots of Bangkok people had escaped the floods of the capital for the royal beach resort of Hua Hin on the west coast of Thailand. Many folk have second homes in and around the seaside town and often escape to the capital at weekends anyway. Up until as recent as two weeks ago you could not find a spare bed in Hua Hin, people were either staying with relatives, in second homes, apartments or other forms of the town’s accommodation.

Mark did add that things had eased off a bit now, but still many people could not return yet, he said it would be a long time before things got back to normal.

Nam Jai (น้ำใจ) A Flowing Heart

The word Nam Jai (น้ำใจ) in Thai language is translated as ”water heart” , but is better known and has a deeper meaning as ” flowing heart” deeper still and you get to the real crux of the matter ” the showing of kindness all without an expectation of gain in return” This is not only a word or in fact a word combination, but a value massively high on the list in Thai culture.

It really did not matter whoever I spoke to the message was very much the same in that compassion, generosity, consideration, concern and support for the fellow-man were being shown in abundance or just maybe it was Thai people doing what comes naturally to them in the showing of (Nam Jai น้ำใจ) a flowing ( kind) heart.

Locally In The South West Of England

In the village of Weston Bath,( khun Ruji) the proprietor of Baan Thon specialist Thai supermarket has been raising flood relief funds under the auspices for the Thai Temple Buddhavihara based in Staffordshire with an outpost in Bristol. Khun Ruji has been immensely successful so far including lots of support during the Loy Krathong weekend of 13th November 2011 in Bristol. The “temple” is actually based at Bristol University’s multi faith chaplaincy http://www.theravadabuddhisminbristol.org/find-us.htm .

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3 thoughts on “Thailand Floods: In Praise Of The Thais”

Great little object over the floods:)and yes everyone’s become one big family helping each other,thats what the meanign of being Thai..Nam-Jai is routed in our society whether in the desatrous or normal circumstandces.When thigns getting tough,the toung get going:)not bad khun Trev:)another good piece of work from you..well done.

Thank you once again Khun Keown. The Thai people have been through a fair amount lately with various things happening, I thought it was time to re-address the balance and point out real Thai values that have enabled Thailand to deal with this problem so well. Thank you for your support Khun Keown.

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